Samsung Electronics said on the 25th it will introduce new SmartThings features that further strengthen safety and other mobility functions.
Through a recent SmartThings update, Samsung Electronics introduced SmartThings Safe, which lets users request help from family with a single button, and newly adopted a home-to-car vehicle linking feature through collaboration with Hyundai Motor Group. It also strengthened Home Life, which offers tailored suggestions based on the characteristics of users and their families, and support services linked with Samsung.com.
Newly updated on SmartThings, SmartThings Safe is a supplemental feature that can enhance everyday safety, introduced in light of growing demand for safe daily living amid the rise in single-person households and aging.
If a user is unwell or detects a hazard in daily life, pressing a button set as a shortcut on a smartphone or tablet shares the user's time and location information in real time with people registered in My places on the SmartThings app. The shared information notifications can be checked on mobile, tablets, TVs, and Family Hub refrigerators.
Samsung Electronics, together with Hyundai Motor Group, introduced Home-to-Car, which expands SmartThings' support to vehicles. SmartThings links with Hyundai Motor and Kia vehicles, and users can check vehicle status through the SmartThings app and control functions such as climate control and ignition, lock and unlock, and start and stop EV charging.
In June this year, Samsung Electronics introduced Home Life on SmartThings, which recommends needed services based on household characteristics, owned devices, and interests when users answer simple questions related to the lifestyle of themselves and their families. With this update, automation routine recommendations were added to Home Life.
With this feature, it provides services needed by users and their families, such as recommending pet care services to users who have companion animals as family members and suggesting food services to users who are interested in cooking.
Customers using Samsung Electronics products connected to SmartThings can easily link Samsung.com and their owned device information in SmartThings and proceed with service consultations or repair requests. In addition, it is possible to send device status information diagnosed by SmartThings and check past repair history to receive after-sales (AS) support. This feature will be applied first in Korea and Australia starting on the 1st of next month, with plans to expand to more regions.
The usability of the SmartThings app has also been improved. For frequently used devices, settings can be configured to perform necessary operations directly from the SmartThings home screen, reducing the hassle of entering each device's detailed screen.
In addition, the SmartThings app for Windows has been completely revamped, providing a large-screen experience that leverages the advantages of the PC interface while maintaining a consistent UX with the mobile app. In particular, by using the screen split function, users can view each feature's detailed screen without switching screens.
Jung Jae-yeon, head of the SmartThings team (vice president) at Samsung Electronics, said, "SmartThings is evolving into a platform that strengthens everyday safety and links to mobility so customers can enjoy a better life," adding, "We will continue to expand services that customers need and strive to provide a differentiated AI home experience unique to Samsung Electronics."